wow!

a fantastic giveaway at penny's again! oooh i want this so bad!!

A WINNER

A WINNER
homesteader in training has won the giveaway!

email me within 24 hours and i'll get your prize to you :)

libraries must test their books!

ALA Urges Congress To Correct Law That Inadvertently Targets Libraries, Publishers
January 09th, 2009 | Category: Other, School Libraries

CPSC ruling requires children’s books to be removed for safety testing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Library Association (ALA) released a letter to Congress yesterday, urging members to take action against a recent opinion ruling released from the General Counsel of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that would require public, school, academic and museum libraries to either remove all their books or ban all children under 12 from visiting the facilities, beginning on February 10.

The opinion was issued to the Association of American Publishers (AAP), following the group’s request to exclude children’s books from regulation under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which passed the 110th Congress in August and is enforced by the CPSC.

Under the CPSC’s interpretation of the law, which seeks to protect children from exposure to lead and phthalate, books for children under the age of 12 are required to undergo the same testing procedures as children’s toys. Since the General Counsel’s opinion is retroactive, all books currently on library or store shelves must be removed for testing, including textbooks and children’s literature books in academic library research collections.

The publishing community has supplied the Commission with evidentiary support (available at www.rrd.com/cpsia ) that books and other non-book, paper-based printed materials should not be subject to the lead, phthalate, and applicable ASTM standards that are referenced in CPSIA because they do not present any of the health or safety risks to children that the law intended to address.

ALA President Jim Rettig said he agrees that books do not pose a threat to children and should not be subject to regulation.

“The CPSC should enforce this important legislation where the dangers are – not with books, which are not playthings and should remain unregulated,” Rettig said.

“I sincerely doubt that Congress intended to require libraries to be subject to this law, but if Congress does not act soon, libraries across the country will be forced to remove books from the shelves, rather than keep them available to serve the educational needs of our nation’s children.”

The ALA’s letter to Congress can be viewed here. ( see link below to get this pdf file.)

the link for this article is here

for more on what is happening with your school supplies and art supplies etc go here

OH AND I FOUND THIS about high fructose syrup

MILK

as homemakers and gatekeepers of our families we need to be aware of everything that could affect them. here is something my hubby found and it has changed how we will be living. google (or swagbuck!) monsanto and milk to find out more on this subject.

my bloggy giveaway

i get to enter the bloggy giveaways!!!



dear sweet penny has offered one of her ebooks as the prize!

i am offering the 101 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY e-book since we are living in such tough times economically.


penny has a great sale starting tomorrow so check out her bookstore and glean some wonderful things.

TO ENTER:
leave me a comment stating something you like about my site. i'd love it if you subbed or twittered but i don't want you to do that just to get an extra entry :) so for an extra entry let me know what else you like at penny's store!
this runs til friday and the winner will be picked randomly by my kids!

bloggy giveaway days

i have been entering bloggygiveaways for the past day so i have neglected my own blog!
i , on purpose, have not blogged about any of the giveaways to earn extra entries cuz it is just too much! but i am blogging about this one ( and how ironic that she doesn't offer that as an extra entry!) becuz it is near and dear to my heart.

WIN HEADCOVERINGS! this is the type of headcovering i wear in case you are wondering. :)

it is cold here- 29 degrees. ice on the roads and icicles on the trees. michael drove over an icy bridge and immediately after he went over it they closed it!! mmmmm. how does he get back i wonder?!

last nite we had chicken spaghetti. tonite we will have creamy chicken and noodles. yes walmart had a sale on chicken. next we will have bbq chicken burgers. ( i know, we are on a kick with those things!) chicken noodle soup is on the menu too.

well andrew needs a cuddle- he is sitting up with help now and he looks sooooo cute!!

for me!

i won!!i received an award ! this means a lot and i'd like to thank heidi at little people wealth
for presenting me with this.

now it's my turn! i am nominating

1-dawn at on a quest for plain living- i love how upbeat she is!
2-hadias at the wife at home- she has such a hospitable spirit
3-ashley at jonash...two of a kind, working on a full house. i love her boldness at speaking the gospel. plus her love for her family literally shines thru the internet.
4- cass at thankfulmommy- she's had her tough times but rallies against all that to be there for her children and makes the most of everything she can for them.
5-beth at twentyfourhrs- she has a real sense of gratitude that she shares with others. check out her past few entries for proof!
6-kim at in a shoe- i love how she is with her family and then shares it with us!
7-kelly at generation cedar- i love her soapbox attitude and her love for Christ.
8-anne at anne elliott- her love and knowledge of the scripture help me so many times!
9-michelle at sweet irie- she has a smile you can hear thru the airwaves.
10-sheena at mommy daddy blog- her love for her son makes me smile big every time i read her blog

What to Do Now

I want to say congratulations to all the winners. Please share this opportunity with your favorite bloggers by doing the following:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.

2. Nominate at least 10 blogs, which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude! Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.

3. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

4. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

a typical day

i thought i would share a look into our typical day here in the lewis household.

beans are in the crockpot, so we can use them all next week for lunches.
hibiscus tea is on the stove and french vanilla coffee is on the counter.
banana bread is in the oven and neapolitan cookie dough is in the freezer, courtesy of my daughter sarah.
three loaves of homemade bread are rising on the kitchen counter.

american girl dolls lie undressed on five year old rebekah's bed, after being discarded for tree climbing in the backyard. pink cowboy boots and all!

horses and teddy bears lie across seven year old hannah's bed, after being discarded for alone time on the porch while brother and sister climb tree in backyard. she is singing to herself.

three year old jamison is running naked around the living room, having discarded his clothes because he knows it drives mommy insane!

mom is sitting on the couch nursing five month old andrew, while watching jamison run around the living room. at the same time she is repeating the phrase "put your pants back on".

eight year old parker is in the backyard tree with rebekah, alternately trying to push her off the limb and saving her from the hard ground below. he can't make up his mind. he can hear mom yelling, in between admonishing jamie about his pants, "stop pushing your sister out of the tree!".

fifteen year old ben has given up trying to fix his computer and has come into the living room, casting a look of disgust at his mom, as if it is her fault that the pc won't work right.

twenty two year old sarah has escaped to her bedroom to knit more purses and scarves to sell. she thinks we don't know it but we know she has chocolate hidden in there. mom's stash is hidden between two nesting tupperware bowls. that will be changed now!

math is complete, and one child has done language arts (parker). hannah's phonics lesson lies on the dining room table. we will get to it when we do - that's the beauty of homeschooling. our science book is sitting next to mom on the couch, for reading in the afternoon.

the washing machine and dryer are both running on their third cycle today. the dishwasher is on it's second cycle (using my new favorite electrasol). there are tights and diaper covers hanging over the shower curtain rod, drying. it's too cold to hang them on the line today.

mom is on her second pot of coffee while blogging, and now ben is on the phone to his best friend johnny.

and it's only noon! no, mom, i don't sleep til eleven like parker says! he neglected to tell you i had only had two hours of sleep having been up with two sick babies the nite before!

and that is a typical day in the lewis household.

titus 2

listen up all you titus 2 wannabes ( that includes me!) here is a site we need to bookmark and learn from. there is also a contest bundle to get us started. so check it out!

three reviews

i am periodically asked to review products. sometimes i just review them because i think they're really great. here are three product reviews.

the first product i am going to review is crest prohealth toothpaste. i was asked to try this product and report back what i thought. i think it is fantastic! while it starts out more calm and sedate then most toothpastes, you soon realize that that is a good thing. you don't get any wow factor, such as a burning or a chemical taste. wjen you are done brushing your teeth feel super smooth and well, perfect! i find myself licking my teeth during the day just to see how long the feeling lasts! it lasts for hours!

the next product i want to review is electrasol get packs. i chose the orange scent. i was asked to fill out an extensive survey about this product which included watching commercials. then when i used the product i truly noticed a difference. the first thing i noticed when i opened the dishwasher was a pleasant orange aroma as opposed to a chemical smell. then when i was putting away the glasses i noticed a bit more sparkle then normal. truthfully i didn't notice a big difference in the plates or bowls but where i did notice the biggest difference was in the silverware! wow! talk about a shine! i kept staring at the forks and spoons wondering what had happened to them. then i remembered the diamond finish that was the claim electrosol was making. i certainly had answered enough questions about it, lol! this product is definitely worth the money and has already influenced my next dishwashing detergent purchase. it helps there are lots of coupons floating around out there!


the next product i want to review, even tho i am being compensated for it, that has no bearing on my review, is snuggle dryer sheets. again, wow! this is the first fabric softenener whose scent i can still detect after i use it. when i am folding clothes i am greeted with a pleasant floral scent on each item. so much so that my husband noticed it and commented about it! i also noticed a huge difference in the amount of softness. it is the first fabric softenener that actually does what it says - it softens the clothes. i will not purchase another brand! i am that serious about it. however if you are sensitive to perfume i would probably stay away from this product.


well, that is all i have for product reviews today. happy shopping!

contests

what? win an ergo!!!

here's the link to ergo itself


or maybe win some mineral makeup

here's the link to mommy makeup itself

i won another giveaway yesterday! a tee shirt for me! ( thanks island review!) that makes 49 contests i have won so far. the most expensive item i won costs $90 ( a necklace with all 7 of my children's initials on it )

leave me a comment stating what you have won recently!

responding

i am so thankful for the comments ! i wanted to respond to a few statements made, meaning NO DISRESPECT AT ALL, and none was taken. we are all on this walk together and we each are working our salvation out as we go along. my hope and prayer is that , as my eyes were opened, so would others' be. we each must be at peace with God in our hearts- no one else can do that. :)

so here goes :)

I also am convinced that is not dependent upon whether a woman is employed outside her home or not but rather upon where her heart is my response: both a man's and a woman's heart should be at home, not dependent on where they work.


Some of us have husband's who want us to work, some of us have no husband, some of us have no "from the home" skills to earn a profit with, some of us are single moms, etc. And I would ask you what the Spirit probed me with, do you avoid using the services (nurses, physcians, grocery clerks...), wearing the clothes, appliances, etc., of women who had to leave their homes to provide you that service? my response: you do need to submit to your husband but what a shane that he doesn't see the scripture as God's perfect plan for us women. i have no skills such as sewing etc but i make about $250 a month doing surveys and collecting freebies. this is 2 weeks worth of groceries for us!! no special skill needed! single moms- if they are single by choice ( child born out of wedlock) then they have a whole 'nother problem to deal with. if they are divorced- well they missed God's perfect plan there too. if they are widowed scripture tells them exactly what to do. if they under 60 they are to remarry. if they are over 60 the church is to support them. :) i didn't write it, i just copied it from the bible. and yes i do try to avoid the services of working women!! ( outside the home that is!) it is impossible in this fallen world (i do go to walmart) but i use homebased businesses as much as possible!! i sometimes pay more but i am standing up for my convictions. :) and when i go to walmart i always pass out my card with my blog address on it so everyone there knows exactly where i stand!

if i work at walmart

if i work at walmart (or anywhere but home)

i have to be at work whenever my boss says. it doesn't matter if my son is sick and needs me at home.
it doesn't matter if my child had a rough nite and didn't get much sleep and needs to sleep in, she MUST get up early and out the door to daycare.
it doesn't matter if my two year old had a nightmare and is afraid that mommy is going away forever, i have to leave him crying in someone else's arms so i can go check out cans of soup on a conveyor belt. so what if it traumatizes him?

if i work at walmart i have to stay all of my shift no matter what. so what if my child gets a fever? so what if my teenager is running into trouble with the neighborhood bully and needs someone THERE? so what if my husband decides to bring the boss home for dinner and needs me to get things ready?

if i work at walmart i have to go home when the boss allows me to. it doesn't matter that my husband wants dinner on the table at six and i don't get off until seven. it doesn't matter that my children do their homework, take their baths without me and have to skip bedtime story because i'm not home - as long as i am obeying my boss that's all that matters. what does childhood mean anyway?

ephesians 5:22 - wives, submit yourselves unto your OWN husbands, as unto the Lord.

no where does it say wives submit yourselves to someone else's husband. voddie baucham calls this wife swapping. he says that since a wife will swap husbands i.e. submitting to her boss instead of her husband, that the husband has to swap wives with another man and hire his wife to do the jobs that his own wife should be doing.

should a woman work outside the home

Exegetical Defense of the Woman as Keeper At Home

by William Einwechter, February 9, 2004

In Titus 2:3-5 the apostle Paul charges the older women in the church to teach the younger women “to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” The instruction for women to be “keepers at home” generally has been understood by the church as teaching that the sphere of a married woman’s work is her home. This understanding is reflected by the Puritan commentator Matthew Poole, who interpreted the phrase to mean: “housewives, not spending their time gadding abroad, but in looking to the affairs of their own families.” ([1]) The Christian woman as a housewife, looking diligently to the affairs of her family, was the standard in Puritan New England:

In seventeenth century New England no respectable person questioned that a woman’s place was in the home. By the laws of Massachusetts as by those of England a married woman could hold no property of her own. When she became a wife, she gave up everything to her husband and devoted herself exclusively to managing his household. Henceforth her duty was to “keep at home, educating her children, keeping and improving what is got by the industry of the man.”

However, this view went beyond the Puritans and was the perspective of all branches of the church and a central aspect of Western Christian culture. For example, Lenski, the eminent Lutheran commentator, stated that the phrase “keepers at home” indicates domestic responsibility and that the home is the place of a married woman’s work; she is a “housekeeper” who dispenses “all good things in this domain.”

Nonetheless, in accord with the spirit of our age that looks in disdain upon the notion that the sphere of a married woman’s work is her home, many in the church have rejected the earlier consensus understanding of “keepers at home.” Instead, to be “keepers at home” is interpreted to mean that a wife and mother is “to be busy at home” (NIV), i.e., she “should not be idle or derelict in fulfilling home duties.”
In other words, “keepers at home” does not define the married woman’s calling or the sphere of her work, but is simply an admonition not to neglect her domestic duties. Therefore, a wife and mother may pursue a career outside of the home — as a lawyer, teacher, sales clerk, etc. — as long as she fulfills her responsibilities in the home.

The difference between the traditional interpretation of “keepers at home” and the modern version is considerable. While the traditional interpretation established the home as the sphere of a married woman’s work and calling, the modern understanding says that the term does nothing of the kind. While the traditional interpretation defined a married woman’s “career” as homemaking, the modern view teaches that a married woman may pursue a career outside of the home as long as she does not neglect homemaking. While the traditional interpretation calls the woman to focus her energy, time, and talents in the home in the service of her family, the modern view says that she is not so “restricted” and may go outside the home for her employment. Which is the correct understanding? It is our belief that the traditional interpretation is the correct one. We base this opinion on the meaning of the Greek word translated “keepers at home,” and on the wider Biblical teaching on the roles of the wife and mother.

The Meaning of “Keepers at Home”

The Greek word translated “keepers at home” is oikourous. This word is derived from two Greek words. The first, oikos, means a house, a dwelling, or, by metonymy, a household or family. The second, ouros, refers to a keeper, watcher or guardian, i.e., one who has the oversight and responsibility for something. Thus, the basic significance of oikourous is that of a “housekeeper,” that is, one who watches over a household and family, seeing to it that all members are cared for, and all things maintained in good order. Oikourous is used only in the New Testament in Titus 2:5; therefore, in seeking to accurately discern its meaning we must look to the Greek literature of the New Testament era. There, the word oikourous meant watching or keeping the house. It was employed in reference to a watchdog and to a rooster, but more germane to the context of Titus 2:5, oikourous also meant keeping at home, and was employed as a substantive, “housekeeper,” to indicate the mistress of the house. Furthermore, it was specifically used in praise of a good wife. Interestingly, oikourous is utilized contemptuously of a man who refused to go out to war, designating him a “stay-at-home” man.
The verbal form, oikoureo, meant to watch or keep the house. It was used of women to indicate those who were at home to watch over the affairs of a household, and of men to designate those who stayed at home to avoid military service.
Other closely related words such as 1) oikourema, meant keeping the house and staying at home, and was used to refer to women as the “stay-at-homes”; 2) oikouria, referred to women as those employed in the work of housekeeping; 3) oikourios, meant the wages or rewards for the work of keeping the house, but also designated, significantly, keeping children within the doors of the house, i.e., keeping them at home.

On the basis of this word study, it is concluded that oikourous was primarily used in the positive sense to indicate both the nature and sphere of a married woman’s work. The nature of her work is to manage the affairs of her household, and the sphere of her work is the home. It is important to note that oikourous and its cognates all included the idea of staying at home. Therefore, we believe that the “keepers at home” are those who stay at home for the purpose of managing their households. Paul’s admonition is definite: Let the older women teach the younger women to remain within the sphere of their own households so that they might properly attend to their duties of caring for their family and managing its everyday affairs.

The Biblical Roles of a Wife and Mother

The fact that “keepers at home” refers to the married woman’s responsibility to stay at home to care for her family is confirmed when the Biblical teaching on the roles of a wife and mother are considered. Her role is so vital to the well-being of her husband and children, her responsibilities in keeping the home so demanding, that it would not be possible to properly fulfill them unless she devotes herself entirely to them. She cannot do what God has called her to do unless she abides at home.

God assigns three specific roles to the wife and mother. First, she is to be the helper of her husband. “And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him” (Gen. 2:18). Here is revealed the primary purpose of the woman in relation to her husband. The Hebrew word “help” (ezer) comes from two roots: the first meaning to rescue or save, and the second meaning to be strong. It indicates one who is able (has what it takes) to come to the aid of someone who is in need. Thus, God created the woman so that she would be able to come to the aid of the man and be his support and help. The word “meet” means corresponding to, suitable, or comparable to. The woman will be man’s counterpart equal to him mentally, spiritually, and physically. Note carefully that “meet” is a word of essence or nature, while “help” is a word of function. This means that in essence the woman is equal to man, but in function she is subordinate to the man — she is to assist and support him in his calling; or, her calling is to help enable him to be successful in his calling. As Calvin states: “Now, since God assigns the woman as a help to the man, he not only prescribes to wives the rule of their vocation, to instruct them in their duty, but he also pronounces that marriage will really prove to men the best support in life. We may therefore conclude, that the order of nature implies that the woman should be the helper of man.” [8]) Other important Scriptures indicate that the woman was made for the man to be his helper, and that his success in due measure is dependent on her love and support (1 Cor. 11:7-9; Tit. 2:4; Pr. 12:4; 18:22; 31:10-12, 23).

Second, the wife is to bear and nurture the children. The bearing and raising of children is one of the central purposes of marriage (Gen. 1:28). By God’s creative design, the woman is the primary caregiver for a child; she is called and equipped by him to nurture the life and soul of a child. She was created with the marvelous capacity of conceiving and carrying life within her. After birth, she is prepared by God to nurse the child and provide the tender love and affection the child so greatly needs. In conjunction with her duty to help her husband, the wife has the great privilege and high calling to nurture the children of the marriage. The English word “nurture” is a beautiful word to describe a mother’s role. It means to nourish both body and soul. It refers to the tasks of feeding and educating a child.

The Scripture is definite in regard to the motherly responsibilities of the woman. When Paul discusses the qualifications for those widows who will receive support from the church, he gives a list of “good works” that should be present in the report concerning her. The first good work on the list is “if she has brought up children” (1 Tim. 5:10). The Greek word translated “brought up” (tropheo) is extremely important. It means not only to raise, but also carries with it the idea of personal attendance, that of being with the child to care for and to train. Furthermore, the word “brought up” indicates that the rearing takes place in the home. The noun form of “brought up,” trophia, means “brought up in the house, reared at home.” In other words, the good work of the widow in view is that she stayed at home to raise her children! In Paul’s instructions to younger women, he admonishes them to marry and “bear children” (1 Tim. 5:14). To “bear children” means to bring them into the world, but also to nurture and train them. In another text, where Paul discusses the public ministry of the church, he says that women are not to teach but be in silence. However, he quickly points them to the place of ministry God has called them to — “childbearing” (1 Tim. 2:15). This word is a comprehensive term that comprehends all the duties of a mother — physical care, training, etc. — and could be translated as “motherhood.” Hiebert states:

“Childbearing” denotes the proper sphere in which woman finds the true fulfillment of her destiny. It speaks of the highest ideal of Christian womanhood. It brings out that which is noblest and best within her being. Paul’s thought naturally includes the training of children in a Christian home. It stands in opposition to the sphere of public teaching closed to her. ([9])

The motherly nurture of children in their physical and spiritual development is of utmost importance to the kingdom of God. The next generation of God’s servants is largely in her hands. If she is faithful in fulfilling her calling, God will highly honor her, and she shall be counted as one of the true heroes of the Faith.

Third, the wife is to manage the home. In Paul’s charge to the younger women, he exhorts them to “marry, bear children, guide the house . . .” (1 Tim. 5:14). The verb “guide” (oikodespotein) is an expressive term meaning to rule the household, to manage family affairs. It indicates that the sphere of a woman’s authority is the home (as opposed to the spheres of church and state). Furthermore, “guide” is a present infinitive indicating that managing the home is the wife’s constant occupation, her full-time job. In the Biblical description of the virtuous woman, we are told that “she looketh well to the ways of her household” (Pr. 31:27), meaning that she is a wise and diligent manager, supervising all aspects of family life. Additionally, the Scripture says that through her skill as a manager a wise woman secures the well-being of her household, while a foolish woman neglects her managerial responsibilities and her house comes to ruin (Pr. 14:1).

Thus the roles assigned to the married woman by God confirms that “keepers at home” refers to those who remain at home so that they might properly attend to their duties of caring for their family and managing its everyday affairs. When her duties are understood in all their scope and significance, it becomes clear that only by being “keepers at home” can a wife and mother fulfill her high calling from God to be a helper to her husband, a mother to her children, and a manager of her household.
What About the Virtuous Woman?

A common objection to the interpretation that to be “keepers at home” requires a married woman to confine her work, her “career,” to that of her home, is that the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 did not so confine herself. We are told that she was a “business woman” engaged in pursuits beyond the sphere of her own household, thus justifying the claim that a wife and mother is free to pursue employment and a career outside of the home. But the picture of Proverbs 31 is that of a woman managing her own household, not of a woman leaving the home for employment elsewhere. Actually, the portrayal of the virtuous woman provides strong support for the traditional interpretation of “keepers at home.” She is a wise manager of the resources her husband commits to her care (vv. 14, 16, 24). She is a true helper to her husband enabling him to rise to prominence (v. 11, 12, 23). She cares for the needs of her children and husband, assuring that they are well fed and well clothed (v. 15, 21). She sees that all their property is put to good use (v. 16). ([10]) She even engages in “cottage industry” by using any available time and strength to make fine linen and sashes to be sold to the merchants. ([r:>11])
Conclusion

May God be pleased to restore to the church the proper understanding of “keepers at home” so that the Christian family and the Christian church might once again benefit from having the wife and mother in the home filling it with her presence, love, care, and wisdom. We often speak of the home as being the foundational unit of both church and state. We often say, “As goes the family, so goes all else.” So let us give it the priority it deserves, and return the wife to her indispensable role of helping her husband, nurturing her children, and managing her household. We know that a well-ordered home is one of life’s greatest treasures. So let us act accordingly, and return the jewel that truly makes the home a treasure. Let us obey God’s law when he commands the wife and mother to stay at home so that she can properly care for her family and manage her household. Let us give honor to “keepers at home” for to such much honor is due. Our hope for the future of the church and society rests, in large measure, with the virtuous women who are “keepers at home.”

1. Matthew Poole, A Commentary on the Holy Bible, 3 vols. (Edinburgh, [1685] 1990), 3:803.

2. Edmund S. Morgan, The Puritan Family (New York, 1944), 42.

3. R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of Paul’s Epistles to the Colossians, to the Thessalonians, to Timothy, to Titus and to Philemon (Minneapolis, 1937), 912.

4. Richard A. Taylor, “Who Are ‘Keepers at Home’?” Reflections (Spring 1982), 17.

5. Henry George Liddell and Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed. (Oxford, 1940), 1205.

6. ibid.

7. ibid.

8. John Calvin, Commentaries on the First Book of Moses called Genesis, trans. John King (Grand Rapids, reprint ed. 1989), 129.

9. D. Edmond Hiebert, First Timothy (Chicago, 1957), 62.

10. The true sense of Proverbs 16:31 is not that she purchases real estate, but that she puts the family’s property to good use. The virtuous woman sees a field belonging to her husband that is either sitting idle or is not being used in the most profitable way. So she, literally, “takes” it (not “buys” it; see Hebrew text, and the center column reference of KJV), and sets it to good use by planting a vineyard there.

11. But she herself is not a merchant moving in the marketplace. She is a woman working out of her home under the authority of her husband (not some other man) to provide extra income for the family as she is able.

Used With Permission - Chalcedon Foundation
About the Author

William Einwechter (Th.M.) is an ordained minister and an elder at Immanuel Free Reformed Church in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Linda, are the homeschooling parents of ten children.

“The fact that ‘keepers at home’ refers to the married woman’s responsibility to stay at home to care for her family is confirmed when the Biblical teaching on the roles of a wife and mother are considered.”

win a stroller

amazing! you can win this gorgeous stroller just for telling the host what aspect you like the most!!!

monday in our home

My Simple Woman’s Daybook For Today… Jan 19, 2009


Outside my Window… it looks like cold but sunny

I am thinking…that i should go exercise!

I am thankful for… my heater!!!

From the kitchen… dishes are being put away from the dishwasher

From the learning rooms… there is the question of what should we start with today?

I am wearing… my new brown suede skirt ($3 at goodwill!)
I am reading… 3 books at one time
I am hoping… to have a peaceful day

I am hearing… the children running around
I am creating… a new blog post
Around the house… things are bouncing along

One of my favorite things… coffee!
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… reorganizing my closet, decluttering the toybox again

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you…
my morning teacup




mon-sloppy joes and corn on the cob
tues-turkey and noodles (such a hit last week they asked for it again)
wed-bean soup
thurs-turkey sandwiches and salad
fri-turkey salad ( i think this is the last of the turkey i bought for 34 cents a lb last week lol )

my yesterday

well the Lord blessed us last night! hannah needed shoes badly since her old ones actually were hurting her so off we went to walmart. (where else lol) anyway- they just didn't have any that we could, truthfully, afford so we were ready to leave when i spied a pair of tennis shoes, exactly like she wanted at that!, for $2 !!!!!!! unbelievable!! from $15 down to $2. we bought her 2 pairs, one to fit now and one to fit later! see prayer works ladies, even in the middle of walmart!!

we also found a three pack of boxer shorts for my son- get this- down from $6 to $1. believe me- parker has new underwear!! ( have you priced these things?!)

in the mailbox yesterday was - 2 $10 checks from my survey- join at right!- and my $10 gift card from on the border . plus 6 , yes 6, free magazines!! good day for mail!

here's a contest you might like- scribble it wall art. enter and see if you win!

oh check out my savings blog- listed on the left sidebar- thriftymama7- i won an award!!!

Decluttering Magazines

1-2-3 get organized has a great article today on decluttering magazines and i thought i'd share. if you visit her website you can sign up for her blog and get great tips on decluttering and organizing you whole house! all that's written after this is all beverley's's work not mine. :)


Get Organized Month 2009 - Decluttering Magazines

Decluttering magazines is something I'm attempting to do throughout the year. I'm not keeping on top of it, so I need to whittle down the quantity that enter my house.

If you have the same problem, here's how to get started;

1. Go through your magazines and toss those you know you don't need or want any more. To double your time, do this task while watching something on TV or another activity that lends itself to multi-tasking. I take them along when I'm riding in the car for a few minutes or when I know I might be waiting.

2. As you're going through your magazines, ask yourself if you really want to continue the subscriptions you have. If you don't have time to read your magazines, it's wasting your money and cluttering up your house! I've recently let several subscriptions lapse because I just don't have time to keep up with them. I'm also going to cancel a newspaper that we're not reading.

3. For those magazines that are left, tear out the pages to keep or read. Categorize them into like groups: recipes to try, organizing ideas, etc.

4. For those articles or ideas you want to keep on a long term basis, make files for each different category or create a binder for decorating ideas, scrapbooking examples, etc. Use plastic protector sheets and just slide the articles/ideas into the sheets. If you place a piece of paper in the protector sheet, you can store an idea on each side.

5. If there are entire magazines you want to keep, get some magazine boxes and label them accordingly. Give yourself a limit on what you will keep. For example, if you decide to keep one year's worth of a magazine, remove the oldest one when you receive and have read the newest one.

6. Decide if you want to organize your magazines by magazine titles, topics, or by month (if you want to look at ideas, recipes, etc. seasonally).

7. Keep your current magazines in a magazine rack or box. When I have a few moments, I'll pick up a magazine and go through a few pages.

links about the ban on toys, clothing and books

first i wanted to say that my friend tried to take a bag of toys to salvation army and they were refused. this was 2 weeks ago.

my local walmart has absolutlely no art supplies of any kind anymore. no crayons, paints NOTHING.

my mom's goodwil had no children's books for sale anymore.

more on the government takeover of our lives

back in november amazon knew!

truth in control what a site!!

the cpsc site itself.

another site on the banning of the books!

no more taking kids to the library!!!!!

NO!!!!

no more children's books!!!!!!!! taken from the hope chest legacy. please read the letter from the book company!!!
i too have been told we can breathe a sigh of relief about selling children's clothes and i kept reading the amendments and wondering how people drew that conclusion!!



RDERS:

First, I wanted to just touch briefly on all orders that have been placed in the past 3 weeks. We were closed from December 17 to January 2. However, I spent the past week researching in detail the new law since it decides whether we stay open or close.

I started processing orders today. ALL orders placed between December 17 and January 10 will be shipped out on Monday, January 12.

UPDATE:

Thank you all so much for passing the information along and getting people informed! We are seeing activity both in the media and at the CPSC!!! Nothing definitive yet, but they know American's are getting upset.

Several have asked me about the new amendments that were recently sent out from the CPSC. This is my reply to several who have asked, please read carefully because this is still a very confusing issue:

Not to discourage anyone, but you need to READ carefully and THINK about what the new updates are actually saying. There are two so far. Here is what I wrote to another group who was getting excited about 'resellers being able to sell'...because it isn't true.

Here is information taken directly from their update page:

***The new safety law does not require resellers to test children's products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold. However, resellers cannot sell children's products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate
the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties.***

I still don't see an out, even for resellers. If you read this, it says that they can sell it IF the items do not exceed the lead limit - and to avoid selling anything that may be in question. So how do you know what the lead limit is without testing it first???

Without testing the item, or having proof from the manufacturer that it was tested and certified - they are still back where they started from. It also doesn't say anything about it being retroactive so we can sell our inventory without worry.

What they have written is a CONTRADICTION between the first sentance and the second one! At least that's what I'm reading...reread it and tell me I'm seeing things??? They are going in circles here.

And their 'exemption' announcement about fabric and wood, that too is NOT clarified at all. They state that items made of 100% natural fabric or wood is wonderful news - until you start looking closer. Buttons, zippers, snaps, velcro, polyester thread, etc would make any clothing items undergo testing - so although the fabric makers can sell their fabric, those who purchase it can't use it to create items and resell them without testing their items (or the buttons, snaps, etc.) Same with wood - use plain wood, that's fine. But what about nails, screws, stain, paint, polyurethane, etc. All that would come under testing because they are metals and
plastics.

So it sounds good, but they have not clarified it enough for anyone to breathe freely yet.

I still can't sell the majority of my products.

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT HCL?

I have received numerous emails asking me to please consider staying open. That is my goal - but reaching it is tricky. Saying I am discouraged is an understatement - but I love a challenge so this has made me try and thing of ways around this law.

Several have offered suggestions, including starting up the Grandmother series with Lucie being 13 years old; offering the Grandmother kits for ages 13 and above with directions on how to create the project; offering downloads of new Grandmother books with a complete material list included for the project (along with photos of the items so it is easy to find what you need), and many other interesting and possible solutions to this dilemma!

So please know I am working on my end to see how I can twist HCL around and start all over again geared solely to teens and adults. A number of our kits, such as the Redwork and Crocheted Pot Scrubber kits can be stated as 13 and above, so that is not a problem.

What just breaks my heart is not being able to write and create things for the younger ones - the ones who find SO MUCH joy in learning something new. There is that golden window of opportunity in children when they are 3 to 10 years old where everything is fascinating and draws their attention. And I loved being a part of that by writing books specifically for that age range. So there lies my heartache over this whole situation...

Please know if there is a way I can balance all this, I will. My husband and I have been discussing this endlessly and I have been in conversations with many other publishers like myself. Where there is a will, there is a way - we just need to find it!

For those who think this is not serious, Amazon.com has sent out a blanket letter to all vendors and those who sell through Amazon. Certification MUST be submitted to Amazon by January 15 or the reseller or vendor will not be allowed to continue doing business with Amazon.

Another confirmation of the intense concern is Random House, one of the most well known publishers in the world. They also publish a huge amount of children's books each year and have for decades. Here is part of their recent announcement:

If the CPSIA is applied to paper-based books, as indicated in the advisory opinion of the CPSC General Counsel, children's book publishers, manufacturers and distributors will be confronted with several nightmarish scenarios. All existing paper-based children's books such as The Cat in the Hat, Goodnight Moon and Harry Potter as well as thousands of textbook titles-tens of millions of books-currently on the shelves of our nation's classrooms, public and school libraries, bookstores and in warehouses may simply be removed and destroyed because they cannot feasibly be tested to assure compliance with these unfounded toxicity concerns. All new paper-based books-not plastic toys in the shape of books-will be needlessly subjected to expensive and time-consuming testing that will overwhelm the few laboratories accredited for testing of actual children's toys and other children's products potentially presenting real threats of lead toxicity. These scenarios will have severe
adverse effects on our children's education.

What about libraries and the children's book sections? Read this quote from Emily Sheketoff who is the exectutive director of the American Library Association. This is something she is very concerned about:

"We are very busy trying to come up with a way to make it not apply to libraries," said Sheketoff. But unless she succeeds in lobbying Capitol Hill for an exemption, she believes libraries have two choices under the CPSIA: "Either they take all the children's books off the shelves," she says, "or they ban children from the library."

So if those of you who are thinking this is all hype and will blow over, these are high ranking companies and people who are very concerned about this new law. It isn't 'just me' saying this.

Get involved - call and complain and sign petitions. When they hear our voice, they will be stilled and realize the enormity of their mistake!!! And let us hope they change it, and quickly...

I will be listing places to call and contact, petitions you can sign ,etc on my website this weekend.

Rebekah


Rebekah Wilson
Hope Chest Legacy
rebekahwilson@hopechestlegacy.com

my menu and binder

monday - tacos
tuesday - turkey and noodles
wednesday - bbq turkey burgers
thursday - seasoned hamburger patties with veggies
friday - turkey and bean soup
saturday - turkey alfredo
sunday - turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing dinner
monday - turkey roll ups
tuesday - creamed turkey over homemade bread

okay as you can tell i am using up the turkeys that we bought on sale for 34 cents a pound. i am also using the stuffing i bought for 25 cents a box at walmart. i am also using coupons for campbells creamed soups.

remember when all the bloggers talked about their household notebooks? well, i am still using mine and i thought i would share the files i have in mine. maybe it will help you come up with your own :)

first tab is my schedule. i have two or three that i use depending on how the day is going and where we are at school wise but no matter what i have a plan in mind.
included in this section are the rules of the house, a printable checklist for sons and daughters that i printed from the doorposts.net website, as well as susannah wesley's 16 rules and a list of traits that a virtuous woman should have, taken from the avirtuouswoman.org website.

the next tab has several print outs from avirtuouswoman.org with tips and attack plans for cleaning each room of your house. i find these lists and plans help the kids especially.

the third tab is my menu planning section. i don't include recipes here since i have another binder just for that. but i do have several sheets i have printed from organizedhome.com that help me lay out a month's worth of menus at one time (but i am always open to sales, the turkeys above attest to that!).
also included in this section a chart on how to freeze different foods, a pantry inventory (which i admit i am not always good at keeping), an emergency food storage calculator.

next tab is marked as cleaners. here i have recipes for homemade tide, homemade carpet cleaner, homemade cascade, as well as a few all purpose cleaners.

the next tab is i list as family needs. this is where i keep a running list of the items our family needs at any given time. right now that list reads: bath mat, food dehydrator, and a new trash can. i recently crossed off boys underwear, and a vacuum.

the homeschooling tab has printables for unschooling, just in case i ever feel like using them, and lists of the books and field trips we take throughout the year.

the next tab is marked library and i keep a running list of the books i want to check out from library. i write in it on a regular basis and when i go to the library i jot down a few of the titles and ask for an interlibrary loan. my small town library doesn't carry much so i need to do the interlibrary loans all the time.

next is phone numbers and addresses.

the next tab is my honey do list. it is amazing how long you can look at something and just assume it belongs that way. and since hubbys are not always good at remembering the list of chores at home ~smile~ it helps to have a running list of things that need fixed. it also helps to keep us excellent wives on track so we don't nag and complain but simply open up the binder to the list and look up the next item :)

the next section marked medical. here i have lists i garner from parenting magazines and our own health records. i also have a list of supplements and their benefits, a recipe for deep tissue oil, a reflexology chart, and a chart on how to perform cpr and the heimilich manuever.

the next section is marked kids art. here i keep directions to different craft projects and science experiments.

after that is the money section where i have our budget and some articles i printed concerning the topic living debt free.

the next tab is gifts. this is a listing with directions on several homemade gifts i can do.

the next section is marked travel and this is simply a checklist of things we need to do before we leave on vacation, a checklist of things we need to take with us, and since we love camping so much a list of things we need to take with us when we go camping.

the next tab reads decorating. what follows are pages i have ripped out of magazines that contain ideas i want to implement in my house.

the next tab reads christmas and this is where i keep all my gifts in a jar recipes, a running gift list, a listing of cards i need to send (i cross out each name when i actually mail it), and a page devoted to just the christmas meal.

the last tab reads gardening and it has tips and directions that i need for my humble garden. i love to have a herb garden especially.

in the front and back pockets of my binder i keep all the warranties and directions that come with all the different products a family gathers. this way i never panic when hubby says where is the paper that came with the dishwasher? i simply smile and hand it to him.

well, that's my binder.

friday fill-ins

1. It's January; my mom's birthday is soon.

2. quiet! is what I crave most right now.

3. Cork and wine go together like boat and water.

4. cream of wheat is so nourishing.

5. Let us dare to be like Christ.

6. texas is my home.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _time with michael, tomorrow my plans include _same as today becuz michael works all day and Sunday, I want to do something fun!

belgium killing infants!

i found this on a blog i read. it's called strong quiver. all credit goes to her not me.

Thursday, January 8, 2009
Infants under 12 Months being killed by their own goverment!
I received an email from HSDLA with this article. It is VERY disturbing, but people must hear it to PRAY! Pray for the children, the government, and our rights to never be taken away as a parent!
Along with this article it mentions parents who were jailed for not getting their kids vaccinated. Does anyone have suggestions beside prayer that we can do for these families and children?
Building a Better Society?


The Belgian government’s authority over the health and education of its children is deemed by many as a mark of progress toward a “better society” where children’s rights are properly recognized and protected. Those that satisfy the government’s standards live in peace. For the rest, there is no peace, and sometimes, they are not even allowed to live.

Since 2002, Belgium has allowed doctors to terminate the lives of infants under the age of 12 months if they feel the baby is somehow disabled or deficient, and is likely to suffer in life as a result.14 More than half of the Belgian babies who die before they are a year old are killed by deliberate medical intervention.15 In 16% of cases, parental consent was not even considered.16 To put these numbers in perspective, the CIA World Fact Book estimates that roughly 106,000 babies are born in Belgium each year.17 Even using conservative estimates of Belgium’s rate of assisted-suicide in infants, one can estimate that some 470 children will die before they celebrate their first birthday. Of these 470, more than 200 will die not from natural causes, but from direct medical intervention. Forty (40) of them will die regardless of their parents’ wishes, objections, or pleadings. Such a program might produce a “better society,” but one is left in horror at the ultimate sacrifice of innocent babies.

Unfortunately, the program has been deemed so “successful” in Belgium that in March 2008, the government began considering legislation that would also make assisted-suicide available to teenagers and younger children who are terminally-ill.18
----------------------


to see full article go here http://www.parentalrights.org/blog/courts-the-law/un3

more

read this and the post below!!!



New safety rules for children's clothes have stores in a fit
Clothing
Email Picture
Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times


A Goodwill store in Los Angeles is among those that will be required to pay for private testing for lead and phthalates of all clothing for those under age 13.
Some owners say the cost of testing for toxic lead and phthalates will shut their businesses. The law goes into effect Feb. 10.
By Alana Semuels
January 2, 2009
Barring a reprieve, regulations set to take effect next month could force thousands of clothing retailers and thrift stores to throw away trunkloads of children's clothing.

The law, aimed at keeping lead-filled merchandise away from children, mandates that all products sold for those age 12 and younger -- including clothing -- be tested for lead and phthalates, which are chemicals used to make plastics more pliable. Those that haven't been tested will be considered hazardous, regardless of whether they actually contain lead.

"They'll all have to go to the landfill," said Adele Meyer, executive director of the National Assn. of Resale and Thrift Shops.

The new regulations take effect Feb. 10 under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which was passed by Congress last year in response to widespread recalls of products that posed a threat to children, including toys made with lead or lead-based paint.

Supporters say the measure is sorely needed. One health advocacy group said it found high levels of lead in dozens of products purchased around the country, including children's jewelry, backpacks and ponchos.

Lead can also be found in buttons or charms on clothing and on appliques that have been added to fabric, said Charles Margulis, communications director for the Center for Environmental Health in Oakland. A child in Minnesota died a few years ago after swallowing a lead charm on his sneaker, he said.

But others say the measure was written too broadly. Among the most vocal critics to emerge in recent weeks are U.S.-based makers of handcrafted toys and handmade clothes, as well as thrift and consignment shops that sell children's clothing.

"We will have to lock our doors and file for bankruptcy," said Shauna Sloan, founder of Salt Lake City-based franchise Kid to Kid, which sells used children's clothing in 75 stores across the country and had planned to open a store in Santa Clara, Calif., this year.

There is the possibility of a partial reprieve. The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is responsible for enforcing the law, on Monday will consider exempting clothing and toys made of natural materials such as wool or wood. The commission does not have the authority to change the law but can decide how to interpret it.

But exempting natural materials does not go far enough, said Stephen Lamar, executive vice president of the American Apparel and Footwear Assn. Clothes made of cotton but with dyes or non-cotton yarn, for example, might still have to be tested, as would clothes that are cotton-polyester blends, he said.

"The law introduces an extraordinarily large number of testing requirements for products for which everyone knows there's no lead," he said.

Clothing and thrift trade groups say the law is flawed because it went through Congress too quickly. By deeming that any product not tested for lead content by Feb. 10 be considered hazardous waste, they contend, stores will have to tell customers that clothing they were allowed to sell Feb. 9 became banned overnight.

These groups say the law should be changed so that it applies to products made after Feb. 10, not sold after that date.

That would take action by Congress, however, because the Consumer Product Safety Commission's general counsel has already determined that the law applies retroactively, said commission spokesman Scott Wolfson.

The regulations also apply to new clothing. That won't be a problem for large manufacturers and retailers, industry experts say, but it will be a headache for small operators such as Molly Orr, owner of Molly O Designs in Las Vegas.

Orr has already produced her spring line of children's clothes. She says she can't afford the $50,000 it would cost to have a private lab test her clothing line, so she's trying to sell her inventory at a steep discount before Feb. 10. After that, she is preparing to close her business.

"We have a son with autism, so we are all about cleaning up the toxins that our children are exposed to," she said. "But I think the law needs to be looked at more closely to see how it is affecting the economy in general."

Thrift store owners say the law stings because children's garments often come in new or nearly new, because children typically outgrow clothing quickly.

Carol Vaporis, owner of Duck Duck Goose Consignment in New Port Richey, Fla., said her store stocks barely used brand-name clothing from places such as Limited Too and Gymboree.

"We really provide a service to the community to help people get clothes for their children they otherwise couldn't afford," she said.

Families have been bringing more clothes to consignment stores, where they get a chunk of the proceeds, to earn a little cash this winter, she said. She plans to contact her congressional representatives and senators to ask them to amend the law but says there's not enough awareness about the repercussions of the law to force anything to change.

Many retailers and thrift stores appear to be unaware that the law is changing. Of half a dozen Southern California children's thrift stores contacted by The Times, only one had heard of the law. Organizations such as Goodwill say they're still investigating how the law will affect them because there is so much confusion about what will be banned.

Cynthia Broockman, who owns two consignment stores and a thrift shop in Virginia, recently stopped accepting children's products for resale. That raised the ire of a man who was trying to sell his son's castoffs there and had not heard of the new rules.

"I think it's not understood by people how sweeping and far-reaching this is," she said. "The ripples that are going to go forth from this are just astonishing."

alana.semuels@latimes.com

read this!

read this! no more yard sales. no more buying clothes at goodwill. no more used schoolbooks.
starting feb 10. CLICK ABOVE.

and this

January 2008
I realize this new law has taken many by surprise. Some are concerned this is all hype and panic and I've even heard people saying this is like the Y2K scare, only it isn't. The CPSIA is an actual law, Y2K was a fear without governmental control.

I want to assure you this law is not a scam and it is not something to be sceptical about. This is real and the concern is most definately real. Companies are already closing, others are refusing to sell to US markets now. The Goodwill and Salvation Army will stop selling used infant and children's items. Landfills are going to fill up overnight with items that can't be sold because of the 'retroactive' clause in this new law - making ANY item, regardless of whether it was made before or after the law went into effect, have mandatory testing done in order to sell it.

One big concern is how the CPSC (consumer product safety commission) will enforce this law - no one knows how that will happen. The CPSC does talk about tracking, that might be one way they will do it. They are small and limited, which could give many the opportunity to sneak by. However, if someone is caught or someone calls the CPSC to see if your product is 'safe and certified' (which would be a red flag) the minimum penalty is 2 years in prison and $100,000 in fines. Chances are I might not ever get caught - but the Bible tells us to obey man's laws when possible, and obviously this is possible. It isn't what I want, but it is what I need to do in order to obey the law.

Many businesses have not even heard about this law yet. Laws are passed all the time without the public being aware of them, and unless the media kicks in to inform the public, we don't always know about laws that are passed and go into effect. This is a prime example of this problem.

Also, my husband as well as many others who are learning about this law expect manufacturers to do the testing before retailers purchase items. That's not happening. For example, most of the companies I order supplies from to make our kits are NOT testing because they state they are selling to the public (adults), not to children. Since I am purchasing their goods and turning them into products that would be used for a child, it is MY responsibility to do the testing because I am the 'end producer' of what is sold for children's use.

Regarding books - if I ordered 50,000 copies printed in one lump and had one of those copies tested, that is not a big expense in the long run and I only need to have that lot tested once. However, if I printed 500-1000 like I normally do, every time I reprinted a new lot I would need to have that lost tested again. THIS is what will kill small businesses - and this is what is sending me out of business.

Our kits we create one bolt of fabric at a time. I might end up with 100-500 kits per bolt depending on the kit. But each time I order a new bolt of fabric (or any supply for the kit) I need to retest the kit again. And each time it would be at least $4000 per test, possibly more because I have so many items in each kit.

The new law is JUST starting to come to the attention of the news and media outlets because people like me, people like you, people in your church and local area are calling and starting to ask questions - otherwise even the media would be unaware of this law and its implications to the economy. Expect to see alot more on this over the coming weeks. The new law is CPSIA (consumer product safety improvement act) or . Here are several links to help you start reseaching:

Environmental Labeling Lawyer's Blog - she is a mother too same link as above


Defining a Children's Product

Actual Law Section
(in case that doesn't open, use this link:

i was unable to get these 2 links to open so use the one below

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ314.110.pdf
From the CPSC (consumer product safety commision):

Question
· If my children's product is not used for "play"
and has no "play value", does it need to
comply with the lead content limits?

Under Section 101, any children's product
that contains more than the established limits
shall be treated as a banned hazardous
substance.
"Play" or "play value" is not a factor.

When is "Play Value" a Factor?
· CPSIA Section 108, pertaining to phthalates,
applies to any children's toy or child care
article: "children's toy" defined as designed or
intended for child 12 years of age or younger
for use by the child when the child plays.

· ASTM F963-07 Toy Safety Standard
excludes art materials in which the material
itself is not primarily of "play value"

This is just a little of what is found online. I hope this helps.

There is one positive thing to report, there MAY be an amendment made to allow all natural cotton and wood products to be exempted from testing. But this means 100% cotton without dyes and without snaps, buttons, velcro, zippers, and polyester threads, etc - so garments, diapers, etc are out. 100% wood items with NO nails, screws, polyurethane, paint, mineral oil, stain, glue, etc. So you're looking at a toy block with no decoration and no coating whatsoever - not much else you can do with plain wood.

They bent the tiniest fraction of a bit - they have a long, long way to go to make this workable.

Rebekah

Rebekah Wilson
Hope Chest Legacy
rebekahwilson@hopechestlegacy.com


let's see- no more privately owned farms, no more selling children's anything, no more organic food co-ops,no more raw milk, DON'T BELIEVE FOR ONE SECOND THE GOVERNMENT CARES ABOUT YOU! IT'S CALLED CONTROL. ALL ABOUT MONEY AND GREED.

i was asked

truly legit survey sites and more

i spend about 1 1/2 hrs to 2 a day doing all this. i can sit down and do it all at once or break it up into smaller amounts of time. i like to have things on my google homepage so i can skim faster and only go where i want. more on that below.



global surveys, earn points this one does take a while before you get anything! each survey takes about 10 minutes or less.

lightspeed another survey company i love! i earn gcs from them often. surveys take 5 min- 25 min depending. WELL WORTH IT!


my points i earn gift cards from here. i never buy anything, i just read emails. this takes less than 1 minute ! at the top of each email it tells you what it is about. if you want to sign up for the deal you get a ton of points. if not scroll down, hit get my points and you get 5 points. the site will load but you can x out as soon as it does if you aren't interested. if you buy things off the web , check to see if they are affliated with my points first so you can earn points every time you shop simply by signing in :) also print qs from here and every time you use them you will get points too!! download the searchbar and get 100 points immediately and keep searching so you earn more points each month. the more you use this search engine the more points you get :) ask me to refer you and i will get points too!!!

frogpond i receive free products to try and review from here. takes just 2 minutes to sign up thru the email they send you and your free product will come.

sign up at different magazine websites as a panel member and you'll get surveys periodically that take about 2 minutes or less. only once a month or so it seems.. then you are entered to receive products to try and review. i have received full size box of tide, 2 rolls of bounty, a laundry bag and more tide, etc so far.

mysurvey.com listed on my sidebar has earned me hundreds in cash! no joke! some surveys take several minutes , some just a few and i have done 4 that required me to log in daily for a week and record info. but i earn $10 in little time (every time you hit 1000 points you get $10) and am amply rewarded for the long ones so IT IS WORTH IT!

swagbucks search i use this search also and earn swag dollars. i have received a $5 amazon gc after 2 weeks of being on it. i use both the my points search bar and the swagbucks search bar. just use one , then the other all day while searching so you collect points from both. sign up under me and i get bucks when you get bucks :)

wellness360- daily i record what i eat, what exercise i do and read as many articles as i wish from the site and in about 2 months i receive $25. yes it takes a while but how long does it take to print what you had for lunch? don't try to defraud the company becuz they read over all you submit before you get any money! :)

go to my thriftymama7 blog - listed on my left sidebar- and click on any of the buttons i have listed. find the websites that appeal to you. these are a great source of coupons to print, freebies to send off for, and contests to enter. do as many as you want. they will send their site feed to your email, google reader, google homepage or my yahoo page , whichever you want. only enter the contests that have something you want and can use. why clutter your home up with stuff you don't need? i spend about an hour a day entering contests and have won 47 so far. use google autofill so you don't need to print your name and other info over and over :)

NEVER ENTER A FREEBIE SITE THAT REQUIRES YOU TO DO SOMETHING! a freebie is a freebie, they don't need you to earn anything. dove.com,olay.com and walmart.com are excellent! so are the other freebie sites i have listed on my thriftymama7 blog . i've been at this for years!!

use coupons to buy trial size items when possible. you end up with a basket load of free goodies.

shop endcaps at target for clearance items, qs in hand and get free or almost free deals! cvs has the extra care bucks and once you get the hang of it you can save big!! i have never done walgreens since we don't have one but i hear they are terrific too with their rebate program. target doesn't take printed qs!! walmart does!

hope this helps a bit. ask if you need more info.

no more small businesses

ok let's see
if you'll remember i blogged about farmers being taxed to the point that they were going to be unable to farm. don't worry said the government, we will provide the food. so ALL farms will be government run farms and we will be unable to get food elsewhere.

they will not allow us to buy raw milk anymore. this should be up to the individual don't ya think?!

now they want us to not be able to sell our used children's clothes in thrift shops and we will not be allowed to sell handmade toys. no more little business owners!!! http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/handmadetoys/

can anyone say BIG BROTHER? sheeps from the goats i say!!!

monday in the lewis household

Outside my Window… it is cold and rainy

I am thinking… about what i need to get done today

I am thankful for… the quiet
From the kitchen… containers of yogurt are being brought out of the fridge

From the learning rooms… more konos and more reading
I am wearing… still my nightie
I am reading… my email
I am hoping… to see that i won another contest

I am hearing… my children
I am creating… peace
Around the house… we are starting to liven up
One of my favorite things… babies!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… school and chores, late nites for michael





mon-tacos (yes again!)
tues-chicken fajitas
wed-chicken and rice- we didn't have this last week as planned. m worked til midnite so i gave the kids leftovers and put them to bed! ~smile~
thur-bbq chicken sandwiches and corn on the cob
fri-hamburger casserole


remember i told you that i earned a $10 gc to old navy? well yesterday sarah used it (it was her christmas gift) and she was able to get 2 shirts, a pair of sleeppants and a a pair of sandals- total $9.96. not bad i think!!!!

just had to share

here is a contest that again i don't really want you to win but i want the exta entry lol. it's for a cart cover!


do you find that you don't spend as much time reading books now that you have a computer? i know i don't! and that bothers me cuz i'm a huge reader. i'm addicted. and i have a stack of books that are screaming my name but i use my spare time to answer email and blog , as well as doing those surveys i told you about . i need to add this to my list of new year's goals- read more books!!

a few things to say

let's see, hmmmm yesterday's mail brought 2 of my contest winnings
a onesie for andrew and a box of earl grey tea, starbucks coffee , a mug and 2 boxes of natural sweetner for me!
i also received my free organic seeds magazine, as well as a $10 check from my survey ( see i told you they work, sign up with the button on the right) and a $5 gift card from on the border. that gives me $20 to spend on our anniversary meal at this mexican restaraunt. since meals are $6 each we will eat for free! using the different gcs i have earned.
i also sent off for my $5 amazon gc which i will use to get a good housekeeping mag subscription since the free year i had from mycoke rewards ran out this month :) thanks swagbucks!

guess what?! i got a new vacuum.! hubby went to walmart to get something and came back with that!! yay!! i needed it so badly. i am so thrilled!!


product review- a bit late i know
i was asked by mysurvey to review bounty paper towels and here is my opinion:

when i was first asked to review bounty paper towels my first thought was "well, they're no different then any other but i'll be glad to get some free paper towels."
was i wrong! the bounty paper towels are stronger then the others and they keep absorbing even after they're wet which is a feat i have not seen in other paper towels. because of this, i can do more jobs with just one towel instead of using more so i actually save money! they are stronger than the others out there so i can do a wider of variety of jobs with them than i can with competititors' brands. thus again i save money! so my review is to collect a ton of qs for bounty and use them!!







ya gotta go get your free bottle of country bob sauce. this is a christian company btw and if you're like me you like to support them when you can :)

jan 2 already?!

Contest : Dining on a Dime print book from Living on a Dime no not from me but from a quiverful family

i found a new coupon site!

go to my thriftymama7 blog for a few more coupon sites i wrote about yeaterday :)

well sadly cvs is no more! i went yesterday to see if there were any sales i could benefit from and while there weren't many ( they will ship the merchandise to another store) they did have a few baskets of makeup on 75% clearance so i went thru my coupons and came home with a physicians formula concealer for just $2, a revlon concealer for $1, and a maybelline mascara for $2.

next i headed to family dollar and got a snood type headcovering for, get this ladies- 90 cents!!!!! they had another one i wanted but someone had stretched it out so...... i like family dollar for headcoverings cuz they are inexpensive and modern. :)

any new years resolutions on your part? i don't usually bother but this year i made a few
1-give more to charity . we have not had much money this past year but now michael has a good job so we have decided to give more. we have the form filled out for voices of the martyrs already.

2-learn more. i always stress having a learning family life.

3-speak out, not in. i won't get depressed becuz i didn't speak out when something botheres me, i will , in my excellent wife manner ~smile~ say something.

4-get dressed before noon. seriously, i have aproblem with this. !! i get busy cleaning and starting school and i forget to get dressed! lol plus i have severe back problems and they are much worse lately so getting dressed can actually hurt me. ( i know, feel sorry for me lol )

5-eat more raw fruits and vegies. not a problem in my family but cancer runs strong in my family so.....

6-no more white flour or sugar! we just stopped cold turkey!!

7-exercise again. i used to power walk but my back has made that impossible so i stopped doing anything! but since i won that yoga dvd i'm gonna do that instead :)

8- read scripture daily (shouldn't that be first?!!!)

9- develop all those old rolls of film!!!!!

one thing to say

you must see this website and you must enter this contest our girls need wholesome reading material and here it is , being handed to you on a silver platter ~smile!



i hope you are all having a great new years day!